Three-way valve



Aug. 19, 1952 TL KANUCH 2,607,599

THREEWAY VALVE Filed NOV. 12, 1949 I I I X l l [raven Z07:

K ut/L Patented Aug. 19, 1952 THREE-WAY VALVE John .A. Kanuch; South Euclid; Ohio, assignor to Y Borg-Warner:Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporationof Illinois Application November 12, 1949, Serial No. 126,373

This invention relates to a fluid pressure valve,

and more particularly to a three-way valve-with provision for metering or modulating return flow. 3 Y

In the operation of heavy, hydraulically actuated apparatus as, for example, in operating a hydraulically raised and lowered plow or other similar equipment wherein hydraulic pressureis employed to move the device in one direction against gravity while return of the device is effected by gravity upon the hydraulic pressure being removed, it is sometimes desirable to pro videa simple valve whereby in one position of the valve pressure may be applied to actuate the hydraulic mechanism, whilein a secondor neu tral position of the valve, the actuating pressure is maintained, and in a third positionof the valve return flow is permitted to allow lowering of the hydraulic mechanism by gravity.

I It is further desirable to provide means in such a valve for controlling the rate of return flow, that is, for metering or modulating the return,

whereby the speed of'lovvering'of the device may] be closely controlled. I e

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient three-way valve withprovision for metering or modulating return flow.-

In accordance with one embodiment of this'invention, a three-way valve may comprise a plungor type valve which'in its neutral or first position permits pressure applied to the valve from a suitable pressure generator to return to the sump. The plunger valve is shiftable to a secend position wherein pressure is prevented from flowing to the sump and is applied through a check valve to the actuating device. Uponreturn of the plunger valve to the neutral position, the check valve prevents return flow and the hydraulically actuated device is maintained in raised position. In a third position of the plunger valve, While pressure applied'from the pressure generator to the valve is returned to the sump,- pressure from the hydraulically actuated device is also permitted to return to the sump, the rate of pressure return being metered to the sump in accordance with the position of a tapered metering surface provided in the valve. The three-way valve also incorporates amaximum pressure relief valve. 1

Other objectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing wherein the single figure is sectional view showing the three-way valve mechanism of this invention.

9 Claims. (01. 277 20) 2 I Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the three-way valve of this invention comprises a large, generally rectangular valve housing block 5 having a plunger valve chamber 6 extending horizontallyacross' the lower portion thereof. Above the plunger valve chamber Band on the-left side of the block 5 a check valve chamber 1 is providedi'n thehousing block 5' and on the right side of-thehousing 5 above the plunger valve chamber there is provided a relief valvechamber 8Q Inlet pressure is supplied to'inlet port 9 from asuitable pressure generator (not shown) and pressuremaybe'returned to" valve iseffected by a longitudinally movable plunger valve I 4 journalled in the chamber 6. The stem 15 of valve [4 extends to ther i ght and terminates in a threaded end portion l8 which maybe secured to any suitable actuating means as, for example, a lever. More particularly, the plunger valve 14 comprises a short valve body having an axially extending passage I! formedtherein, the length of the valve body" being selected 'so that when the plunger valve is shifted sufiiciently to the right, the lower end of a pressure passage 20, formed in housing block 5 and connecting at its upper end to inlet port 9, is sealed. p

Inshifting valve M to the right to seal the pressure passage 20, the valve must be moved disposed about the mid portion of, valve stem [5, whichmid portion as may be seen isreduced indiameterto define at its left enda shoulder 22 against which a spring retainer ring 23is positioned, the left end of spring 2! bearing against the right side of this ring. The right endof spring 2| bearsagainst a second retainer ring 24 mounted at the right end of a short sleeve 25 and retained in position by a retaining cap .26 threaded into the right end of chamber 6.

A sealing ring 2! is disposed in a suitably formed, annular recess 28 provided in the left inner portion of retainer cap 26 and serves to prevent escape of fluid pressure axially of the stem [5.

In the position of the plunger valve [4 which is illustrated, pressure supplied to the'inlet port 9 passes through passage and about the periphery of the stem portion lying between shoulder 22 and the right end of valve body l4, returning through port ill to the sump. This left portion of the stem 15 is of substantially less outer diameter than the inner diameter of the adjacent portion of chamber 6. However, by shifting valve M to the right to close the lower end of passage 20, the escape of pressure through sump return port H3 is terminated and pressure then builds up inside the valve housing.

Upon the pressure inside the valve reaching a predetermined, usually relatively low, value established by the compression of a check valve spring 32 disposed in check valve chamber 1, ball check valve 33 may be caused to open, permitting flow of pressure through the chamber- 1 to a short, vertically extending passage 34 formed in the left portion of valve housing '5.

Passage 34 communicates at its lower end with the left portion of plunger valve chamber 6 and a passage is afforded therethrough, as will-be explained hereinafter, to the pressure outlet passage I I, which may be connected to a suitable pressure responsive device.

More particularly, the check valve 33 is supported in a valve guide 35 slidably journalled in check valve chamber 1 and arranged to maintain the ball valve 33in alignment with a valve seat 36 provided at the left end of a sleeve insert 31 mounted in the slightly enlarged, left end portion of ashort, transversely extending passage 40 formed in housing block 5. Passage 40 connects at its right end to the upper end ofpassage 20; A threaded retainer cap 4| bears against the left end of spring 32 and holds the same securely in position, while permitting adjustment of spring 32.

So long as the valve I4 is shifted to the right to close the lower end of passage 20 and the pressure in the valve exceeds the compression force exerted by spring 32 on check valve 33, pressure will be applied through the check valve to the outlet port- I I. When the valve 14 is released,

however, it will be shifted to the left to the posi-= tion illustrated in the drawing by the coiled compression spring 2|, thus terminating the delivery of pressure fluid through the outlet 'II by permitting fluid supplied to the inlet 9 to return to Where the device the sump through outlet I0. actuated by pressure supplied from theoutlet l I is of the type which upon cessation of pressure delivery thereto produces an immediate return pressure, as for example, a plow which has been raised by hydraulic pressure, return flow of pressure to the sump will be prevented by the ball check valve 33 which will immediately seat upon the valve 14 being moved to the left andpressure in-the chamber 20 being reduced.

Return of pressure to the sump through the chamber 6 is prevented by a metering valve 42 disposed in the left port-ion of chamber 5 and arranged to seat on the left end of a sleeve insert 43 mounted in a suitably recessed portion 44 of chamber 6, the left end of insert 43 providing a valve seat and terminating adjacent the right side wall of vertical passage 34, as viewed in the drawing. "Ihe metering valve 42 comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical body having a flange 45 formed about the periphery of the mid portion thereof, the right side of the flange being beveled to form a valve rim suitable for seating engagement with respect to the valve seat provided at the'left end of sleeve insert 43. Immediately to the right of flange 45 there is provided in valve 4 body 42 an annular groove 46 to facilitate manufacture of the metering valve and insure the provision of a close seat.

Starting at the right side of groove 45, there is provided on the upper portion of this metering valve a tapered metering surface 41, the surface 41 tapering inwardly toward the right end of the metering valve. Substantially in' the middle of the tapered portion of the metering valve, there are provided short, radially extending passages 48 which communicate at their inner ends With an internal chamber 50 defined by the hollow valve body 42.

The metering valve 42 is normally held in the position illustrated, that is, with the flanged valve member 45 seated on the valve seat 43 by a coiled compression spring 5| disposed about the left portion of the valve body and having its right end bearing against the left side of flange 45. The left end of spring 5| bears against the right end of a retaining cap 52 threaded into the left end of chamber 6, and a sealing ring 53 is disposed in an annular groove 54 formed about the periphery of the left portion of cap 52 to prevent escape of fluid between the cap and the chamber end of metering valve 42 to control escape of fluid pressure to the left axially of the valve. 7

When the plunger valve I4 is shifted to the left, that is, to the third position hereinbefore referred to, the metering valve, the right end of which abuts the left end of valve [4,- is also shifted to the left. Initially, the valve flanged portion 45 is unseated, but continued movement causes the metering surface 41 to be exposed. The further the metering valve 42 is shifted to the left, the wider the opening provided by the metering surface 41 as will be readily understood. Upon the metering surface 41 being exposed, a return passage from the discharge passage H is provided through the radial passages 48 to the chamber 50 which communicates at its right end with the chamber I1 formed in the interiorof valve l4. It will be noted that, at the rightend chamber communicates directly with the sump return port I0. Because the chamber 50 in the valve 42 is in constant communication with the portion of chamber 6 at the left of valve and at the same time with the sump return [0, movement of valve 42 is not hindered by hydraulic locking.

It will be evident from the foregoing that by controlling the position of valve l4, it is possible either (a) to divert pressure supplied through inlet 9 to the sump, or (b) to cause pressure to be applied through the discharge port II to an actuating device, or (c) to permit return of pressure at a rate controlled by the leftward position of the valve [4 and particularly of the metering surface 41.

In order to control the maximum pressure, and this is particularly important when the shiftable plunger valve [4 is shifted to the position where the passage 20 is closed, a relief valve is provided in this valve assembly. The relief valve comprises a ball valve. carried by a guide .6! journalled in relief valve chamber 8 and the ball valve 60 is adapted to seat against the right end of a sleeve insert 52 mounted in a short transverse :passage 63, which'communicates at its left end-with theupper portion-of passage 20;: The ball valve Gil-is normally held-in closedor'seated position bya heavy; coiled compression spring 64 disposed in:the :right portion of :icha'mber '8 and having its 'left fend b'earing'aga-inst the innerside of guide 6|: :T-heright end of L'springM bears against a threaded retaining cap"651 :which 1 is threaded intoithe right end portion of. relief valve chamber Upon the pressure, exceeding a predeterminedmaximum value, relief valve 60 will open and permit passage of fluid under pressure through the left portion of relief valve chamber 8qto a-downwardly extending short passage 66, which communicates at its lower end withthe plunger valve chamber 6. This portion of the chamber is always in communication with the sump return :port l;'as will be readily evident from the drawingpand thus an emergency relief passage is always provided.

Where herein the various parts of this invention have been referred to as being located in aright or a left, or an upper or a lower, position, it "will be understocdthat this is done solely for the "purpose of facilitating descriptionand that such referencesrelate only to the relative positions of the parts as shown in the accompanying drawings.

While but one'embodiment of this-invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein. without departing from the 1. A three-way valve including a housing having an inlet port, a sump return port and a utilization port formed therein, a check valve disposed in said housing between said inlet ort and said utilization port, a pressure relief valve in said housing between the inlet port and the return port, a metering valve between the utilization port and the return port and a shiftable valve effective in a first position to permit inlet pressure to pass directly from the inlet port to the return port, said shiftable valve being shiftable to a second position blocking direct flow to the return port to cause pressure to be applied through said check valve to the utilization port, and said shiftable valve being shiftable to a third position to open said metering valve to control the rate of flow of pressure from said utilization port to said return port.

2. A three-way valve including a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a utilization port formed therein, a check valve disposed in said housing between said inlet port and said utilization port, a pressure relief valve in said housing between the inlet port and the return port, a metering valve between the utilization port and the return port and a shifta'ble valve effective in a first position to permit inlet pressure to pass directly from the inlet port to the return port, said shiftable valve being shiftable to a second position blocking direct flow to the return port to cause pressure to be applied through said check valve to the utilization port, and said shiftable valve being shiftable to a third position to open said metering valve to control the rate of flow of pressure from said utilization port to said return port, said shiftable valve in said third position providing again a direct path for pressure from said inlet port to said return ort. p 3. A three-way valve comprising a housing,

said housing having. an inlet-port, :a return, port and a utilization port formed therein andgp'ass sages interconnecting said ports, a check valve disposed in the ipassage connecting-the inlet port andzthdutilization port and permittingzflow 10f fluid: .iunderzpressurer from o the inlet port. to the utilizationsport; a-normally; closed metering-valve connected. between the utilization -port and the return:port;v t and'fa control valve shiftabletoffa firstcpos'itioni to permit inlet pressure --tos;pass from "the' inlet port to thereturn port, shiftable to a second position to prevent inlet pressure from passing from the inlet portrto thew return port, and shiftable to-a "third ,p0SltiQII-JtO" mOYB the metering valve. to openjxposition. r 34. ;A-- three-way valve comprising agrhousi-ng; said housing having an inlet port, a return port and a utilization port formed therein and pas-jsagesuinterconnecting said ports, a check valve disposed irr-the passage connecting the-inlet DQrt. and 'the utilization port; and: permittingiflowof fluid underpressurefrom the inlet portqtothe utilization port, a normally closed; metering valve connected betweenthe utilization port-and the return port, and a controlyalve shiftable to a first position topermit inlet'pressure-"topass from the inlet port to thereturn port, s-hiftable to a second position to prevent inlet pressure from passing fromgthe inlet port to the return port, and shiftable to. a third position to .move the metering valve 'to 'open position, said-con- 'trol valve when shifted to said thirdposition again .permitting'passageof fluid under pressure from the said inlet port to said return ports 5. ,A. three-way valvecompris-ing a: housing, said housing having an inlet port,- a return port,- a utilization port and passages: interconnecting said port formed therein, a checkvalvedisposed in the passage;- connecting the inlet port andthe utilization port and permitting fiow'of fluid under pressure from the inlet port to the utilization port, a normally closed metering valve connected between the utilization port and the return port, a control valve shiftable to a first position to permit inlet pressure to pass from the inlet port to the return ort, shiftable to a sec-' ond position to prevent inlet pressure from passing from the inlet port to the return port, and shiftable to a third position to move the metering valve to open position, a tapered metering surface on said metering valve, and a valve seat cooperating with said surface to define a variable area orifice, the size of said orifice being dependent on the amount said metering valve is moved by said control valve.

6. A three-way valve comprising a housing, said housing having an inlet port, a return port, a utilization port and passages interconnecting said ports formed therein, a check valve disposed in the passage connecting the inlet port and the utilization port and permitting flow of fluid under pressure from the inlet port to the utilization port, a, normally closed metering valve connected betweenthe utilization port and the return port, a control valve shiftable to a first position to permit inlet pressure to pass from the inlet port to the return port, shiftable to a second position to prevent inlet pressure from passing from the inlet port to the return port, and shiftable to a third position to move the metering valve to open position, said control valve when shifted to said third position again permitting passage of fluid under pressure from said inlet port to said return port, a tapered metering surface on said metering valve and a valve seat cooperating therewith to define a variable area orifice, the size of said orifice being dependent on the amount said metering valve is moved by said control valve.

'7. A three-way valve comprising a' housing, said housing having'an inlet port, a return port, a utilization port and passages interconnecting said ports formed therein, a check valve disposed in the passage connecting theinlet port and the utilization port and permitting fiow of fluid under pressure from the inlet port to the utilization port, a normally closed metering valve connected between the utilization port and the return port, a control valve shiftable to a first position to permit inlet pressure to pass from the inlet port to the return port, shiftable to a second position to prevent inlet pressure from passing from the inlet port to the return port, and shiftable to a third position to move the metering valve to open position, a tapered metering surface on said metering valve, and a valve seat cooperating with said tapered surface to define a variable area'orifice, the size of said orifice being dependent on the amount said metering valve is moved by said control valve, said control valve having a passage formed therein communicating at one end with said return port and at the other end with the passage in which the metering valve is disposed, said metering valve having an axially extending aperture communicating at one end with the adjacent end of said control valve passage and at its other end with the tapered metering surface.

'8; A "three-way valve comprising a housing,

said housing having an inlet port, a return port,

a utilization port and passages interconnecting said ports formed therein, a check valve disposed in the passage connecting the inlet port and the utilization port and permitting fiow of fluid under pressure from the inlet port to the utilization port, a normally closed metering valve connected between the utilization port and the return port, a control valve shiftable to a. first position to permit'inletpressure to pass from the inlet port to the return port, shiftable to a second position to preventinlet'press'ure from passing from the inlet port to the return'port, and shiftable to a third position to move the metering valve to open position, said control valve-when shifted to'said third position again permitting passage of fluid underpressure from said inlet port to said return port, and a maximum pressure relief valve providing a bypass path'from said inlet port to said return port in the 'event the pressure in said three-way valve exceeds a predetermined value,

9. 'A three-way valve comprising a housing having an inlet port, a sump return port and'a utilization port formed therein and passages interconnecting said ports, check valve defining means permitting flow of fluid under pressure from the inlet port to the utilization port, a metering valve connected between the utilization port and the return port, and a control valve shiftable to a first position to permit inlet pres sure to pass from the inlet port to the return port, shiftable to a second position to prevent inlet pressure from passing from the inlet port to the return port and shiftable to a third position to move the metering valve to open position.

JOHN A. KANUCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof' record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,315,387 Murphy Sept. 9, 1919 2,362,945 Stephens Nov. 14, 1944 

